Stalking famous people

I really like to run, and love even more to watch amazing racers during the Olympics. So often the best racers come from Africa, so in the many countries I have gotten to travel, I like to be able to find some of these folks we see on TV. Here, one of the greatest runners, Haile Gebrselassie, lives. He has broken more records and achieved great fame, not only for himself, but also for his people. He's pretty amazing!

We got to stay at his resort last week. It is a really nice place, and very relaxing. Some people had told us that many times Haile even comes to visit, and that there are usually opportunities to meet him. Katie and I were really excited, and hoped throughout the weekend he would just happen to drop by.

The morning we were leaving, we got word that he was on the premises, so of course we did all we could to casually stalk him, hoping to at least get a picture. We saw him outside, and tried to follow him, but being the good resort owner that he was, he was actually there to work! We felt a little awkward, but finally we were able to meet him and get a picture of him. He is very nice, and despite all of his prestige and fame, really loves his country and people.

Hippos!

Hippos…they are huge. When I visited Uganda my senior year of college, I got the opportunity to get to see some in the wild. They only thing I really remember about that experience was being told, “Hippo’s are huge, and one of the biggest killers in Africa”. Now hearing a thing like that would make the average person think, “Hippos..I should probably stay away from them, and never actually get into a dinky little boat and get as close as I possibly can to them”. Please take note of the “average person”, as we all know I am not average! At the resort the team stayed at there was just such an adventure to get into a boat and go “hunt” down said ferocious hippo..and course, Katie and I jumped at the opportunity!

Upon arriving at the boat dock, the “captain” informed us that we had two options. We could take the 1.5-hour tour by gas-powered engine, or the 3-hour tour by rowing. Of course upon hearing of a 3-hour tour, the theme music for Gilligan’s Island came into my head, and I looked at Katie and suggested we take the shorter trip. We climbed into the “gas powered boat” that was already full of water, and I said a quick prayer as we scooted away from the shore. Our captain was very entertaining and seemed to greatly enjoy talking about amazing swimmers from America. As I looked out towards the horizon, and noticed how close the water was to my body, I again prayed that we would not be linked in with those “amazing American swimmers”.

As the boat muddled along, we finally made it to the site of not only one hippo, but ten. They really were very fascinating to watch, and as the captain tried to scare us several times by moving the little boat closer and closer, we actually got to take some very cool pictures.

Thirty minutes later we returned to shore, not having to swim, but thankful that those “huge, ferocious creatures” let us observe their lives!